by SHUVAIT KOUL
Sleepless nights for Delhi Daredevils till they take guard for their next encounter. It was a rather forgetful day for the hosts as they started their crusade in IPL4 on a dismal note.
Though the DareDevils may earn themselves some points by justifying it as a bad day in the office but their outing against the Mumbai Indians has exposed many chinks in their armor.
They might already be feeling the heat because of the lack of icon players in their side. With the likes of Dilshan, Gambhir, Vettori and De Villiers drafted to other franchisees, all that Delhi is left is an explosive opening pair of skipper Sehwag and David Warner but a brittle middle order. This became evident with Malinga ripping apart their defenses and eventually bundling them out for a paltry total 95.
But DD can draw some solace from the fact that they have a reasonably good pace attack in Morne Morkel, Dinda and Umesh Yadav who on their day can be really probing and hard to get away.
Needless to emphasize that they will have their moments in the IPL but this Daredevils side is by no means is as dangerous as that of the previous seasons and to really pass shivers down the spine of the opposition, they will have to do a lot of home work and get their act together.
In what looked like a duplication of the Delhi performance, KXIP took a leaf out of the Daredevils book much to the dismay of the owner Preity Zinta who has not had not had the rub of the green going her away in any of the seasons.
Apart from some fire works by Ryan Mclaren in the latter half of Punjab innings, it was a disastrous show by them against the first timers Pune Warriors after coming out into the middle under a new skipper Adam Gilchrist. After tottering at nine for four at one stage, they did well to reach a respectable total of 112 in the end but dropping a couple of dollies did not help their cause at all.
Like the Daredevils, the Kings also suffer from the same deficiency of star players and will have to pull their socks up to fancy chances of making it big on the bigger stage. Gilly’s leadership will be put to test and will have to lead by example to pump up the dressing room.
The super Sunday turned out to be a one sided affair and has raised many questions on the nucleus of Delhi and Punjab teams which in the course of the tournament will surely trouble them if they don’t play like cohesive units.
Showing posts with label gambhir. Show all posts
Showing posts with label gambhir. Show all posts
Monday, 11 April 2011
Saturday, 9 April 2011
IPL 4: Deja Vu for KKR; CSK Continue Winning Streak
By Parvathy Gopalakrishnan
There could’ve been no better start to the fourth edition of the IPL, sans a certain Lalit Modi. A revamped and a brand new spirited Knight Riders took on the confident defending champions CSK, and a what a cracker of a match this turned out to be. Lady Luck fully to his aide, MS won the toss, and batting first was an easy choice.
Springing up surprises has never been alien to Dhoni, and in another one of such moves, Anirudha Srikkanth was sent to open the innings with Murali Vijay, who perished very early. Raina and Anirudha gave the innings a much needed consolidation, with Anirudha letting loose occasionally. The KKR fielding looked decent until Pathan senior suddenly started playing butter fingers, dropping two catches. First he dropped Anirudha off his own bowling, and if that wasn’t enough, he dropped Raina this time at mid-on.
While the Superkings hit the occasional boundaries, what worked for them was that they kept the scoreboard ticking. The going looked pretty smooth for CSK until the 10th over, after which Raina (33 off 29) was dropped again by Morgan at mid-wicket before Delhi lad Sarabjit Ladda scooped one to get rid of him in the 11th over.
KKR managed to keep the Dhoni-Anirudha duo quiet for a while post the strategic time out, but that did not stop Srikkanth junior from getting to his half century. And then it was enough of singles and mature batting. It was time to up the ante, and Anirudha did exactly that. While Dhoni stood and delivered, Anirudha belted one over mid-wicket for another six.
Dhoni gloved one to Bisla after he was surprised by some extra bounce off Kallis’ bowling. The 18th and 19th over being quite economical, the final over changed the script for the Super Kings. While Anirudha (65 off 55) perished in a weird manner, Styris and Morkel took the innings ahead with a flurry of boundaries, Kallis conceding 16 runs in the last over.
Requiring 154 to start off the outing on a good note, Kallis and Bisla took charge of the KKR innings. Bashi squeezed one through the gap between mid-off and extra cover, while Kallis also opened his account with a boundary. The fourth over turned to be productive with Kallis opening the full face of the bat to send one crashing to the boundary, and then pulling another one to the fence.
As Bisla fell to Jakati, Yusuf Pathan walked into the middle hoping to set things right. That was not the case to be, as Dhoni produced a marvelous piece of fielding to get rid of him. Kallis continued calmlly on the other end, reaching yet another 50, but before long, he too departed, scooping one to fine leg off off Ashwin’s bowling. Morgan was the next man in, who was undone thanks to some fine glove-work by Dhoni.
Gambhir finally walked into the middle and played a blink-and-miss innings. A huge tactical error this, to come lower down the order. Laxmiratan Shukla and Manoj Tiwary played gritty camoes, the 19th over witnessing two sixes, and a boundary.
The last over and KKR needed 9 to win. After taking a couple, Shukla fell on the third ball. With 7 required from 4 deliveries, Iqbal Abbdullah walked in, and stole two runs. 5 off 3. Shah Rukh and his son egging the team on. Missed run out chance, and more importantly, a dot ball. 5 off 2. Single taken. 4 off 1. Single. Match over. KKR outplayed. Period.
Dhoni steered his team to yet another victory. While the Super Kings were already brimming with confidence, this victory has given them a clear psychological advantage. The man who stole the show, however, was Anirudha Srikkanth, who played a gem of an innings, to prove to the world that he’s not an ordinary son of an extraordinary father!
There could’ve been no better start to the fourth edition of the IPL, sans a certain Lalit Modi. A revamped and a brand new spirited Knight Riders took on the confident defending champions CSK, and a what a cracker of a match this turned out to be. Lady Luck fully to his aide, MS won the toss, and batting first was an easy choice.
Springing up surprises has never been alien to Dhoni, and in another one of such moves, Anirudha Srikkanth was sent to open the innings with Murali Vijay, who perished very early. Raina and Anirudha gave the innings a much needed consolidation, with Anirudha letting loose occasionally. The KKR fielding looked decent until Pathan senior suddenly started playing butter fingers, dropping two catches. First he dropped Anirudha off his own bowling, and if that wasn’t enough, he dropped Raina this time at mid-on.
While the Superkings hit the occasional boundaries, what worked for them was that they kept the scoreboard ticking. The going looked pretty smooth for CSK until the 10th over, after which Raina (33 off 29) was dropped again by Morgan at mid-wicket before Delhi lad Sarabjit Ladda scooped one to get rid of him in the 11th over.
KKR managed to keep the Dhoni-Anirudha duo quiet for a while post the strategic time out, but that did not stop Srikkanth junior from getting to his half century. And then it was enough of singles and mature batting. It was time to up the ante, and Anirudha did exactly that. While Dhoni stood and delivered, Anirudha belted one over mid-wicket for another six.
Dhoni gloved one to Bisla after he was surprised by some extra bounce off Kallis’ bowling. The 18th and 19th over being quite economical, the final over changed the script for the Super Kings. While Anirudha (65 off 55) perished in a weird manner, Styris and Morkel took the innings ahead with a flurry of boundaries, Kallis conceding 16 runs in the last over.
Requiring 154 to start off the outing on a good note, Kallis and Bisla took charge of the KKR innings. Bashi squeezed one through the gap between mid-off and extra cover, while Kallis also opened his account with a boundary. The fourth over turned to be productive with Kallis opening the full face of the bat to send one crashing to the boundary, and then pulling another one to the fence.
As Bisla fell to Jakati, Yusuf Pathan walked into the middle hoping to set things right. That was not the case to be, as Dhoni produced a marvelous piece of fielding to get rid of him. Kallis continued calmlly on the other end, reaching yet another 50, but before long, he too departed, scooping one to fine leg off off Ashwin’s bowling. Morgan was the next man in, who was undone thanks to some fine glove-work by Dhoni.
Gambhir finally walked into the middle and played a blink-and-miss innings. A huge tactical error this, to come lower down the order. Laxmiratan Shukla and Manoj Tiwary played gritty camoes, the 19th over witnessing two sixes, and a boundary.
The last over and KKR needed 9 to win. After taking a couple, Shukla fell on the third ball. With 7 required from 4 deliveries, Iqbal Abbdullah walked in, and stole two runs. 5 off 3. Shah Rukh and his son egging the team on. Missed run out chance, and more importantly, a dot ball. 5 off 2. Single taken. 4 off 1. Single. Match over. KKR outplayed. Period.
Dhoni steered his team to yet another victory. While the Super Kings were already brimming with confidence, this victory has given them a clear psychological advantage. The man who stole the show, however, was Anirudha Srikkanth, who played a gem of an innings, to prove to the world that he’s not an ordinary son of an extraordinary father!
Friday, 8 April 2011
IPL 4 Calling...... Superkings seem sturdy while KKR look to redeem themselves under a new leader
by SHUVAIT KOUL
The battleground is set and the gladiators are out. Season four of the IPL kicks off today with the pioneer Lalit Modi out of the scheme of things. The new boss - Chirayu Amin’s insight and big stage temperament will be put to test this time as the arena has transcended its erstwhile periphery.
Meanwhile the opening game between the defending champions Chennai Superkings and the desperate-to-win Kolkata Knight Riders to be played at Chennai promises to be an edgy clash with Dhoni at the apex of self-belief after the World Cup triumph and KKR raring to go under a new and young skipper Gautam Gambhir.
With the likes of Kallis, Haddin and Yusuf Pathan coming in for the Knights, the team seems to have a proper blend of experience and exuberance of youth. In the previous seasons, KKR did not have enough fire power and ran out of gas at crucial junctures but this time the make-up of the team brings in a new ray of hope for them.
The Bowling attack though looks a little vulnerable with not much experience and the absence of the Aussie fast bowlers Brett Lee and James Pattinson will make them feel the heat.
CSK on the other hand must be oozing with confidence after their stupendous performances in the last season. The morale of the dressing room will be up particularly after seeing a World Cup winning captain leading them.
Hussey, Dhoni and Raina’s presence in the middle order makes them a formidable batting outfit. However, they will be going out without the flamboyance and muscle strength of Matthew Hayden and Jacob Oram. Filling their shoes will be difficult though they did not play much in the third season.
Dwayne Bravo, the new pick snatched from the Mumbai Indians may turn out to be the trump card for Dhoni as the tournament catches up. Like KKR, CSK’s bowling too looks a brittle. Doug Bollinger will hold the key while the onus will be high on Ashwin and Tim Southee.
All in all, the encounter seems to be between two evenly matched sides but the Superkings will certainly have their tail up being the defending champions and playing the first match at home will do their confidence a world of good. But given the new look of the Knights, the competition will be cut throat.
The battleground is set and the gladiators are out. Season four of the IPL kicks off today with the pioneer Lalit Modi out of the scheme of things. The new boss - Chirayu Amin’s insight and big stage temperament will be put to test this time as the arena has transcended its erstwhile periphery.
Meanwhile the opening game between the defending champions Chennai Superkings and the desperate-to-win Kolkata Knight Riders to be played at Chennai promises to be an edgy clash with Dhoni at the apex of self-belief after the World Cup triumph and KKR raring to go under a new and young skipper Gautam Gambhir.
With the likes of Kallis, Haddin and Yusuf Pathan coming in for the Knights, the team seems to have a proper blend of experience and exuberance of youth. In the previous seasons, KKR did not have enough fire power and ran out of gas at crucial junctures but this time the make-up of the team brings in a new ray of hope for them.
The Bowling attack though looks a little vulnerable with not much experience and the absence of the Aussie fast bowlers Brett Lee and James Pattinson will make them feel the heat.
CSK on the other hand must be oozing with confidence after their stupendous performances in the last season. The morale of the dressing room will be up particularly after seeing a World Cup winning captain leading them.
Hussey, Dhoni and Raina’s presence in the middle order makes them a formidable batting outfit. However, they will be going out without the flamboyance and muscle strength of Matthew Hayden and Jacob Oram. Filling their shoes will be difficult though they did not play much in the third season.
Dwayne Bravo, the new pick snatched from the Mumbai Indians may turn out to be the trump card for Dhoni as the tournament catches up. Like KKR, CSK’s bowling too looks a brittle. Doug Bollinger will hold the key while the onus will be high on Ashwin and Tim Southee.
All in all, the encounter seems to be between two evenly matched sides but the Superkings will certainly have their tail up being the defending champions and playing the first match at home will do their confidence a world of good. But given the new look of the Knights, the competition will be cut throat.
Sunday, 3 April 2011
More Than a Billion Hearts Conquered
by SHUVAIT KOUL
It gives me goose bumps writing this piece. What an incredible feeling it is to be called the World Champions. A day like this comes once in a blue moon.
But finally Dhoni and his brigade did what the nation had been yearning for since 1983. The whole of India will be dancing in the aisles tonight and the celebrations will continue for many more days to come.
It was the perfect script for a final that one could have aspired for. Right since the 1996 WC, all the finals had been one-sided affairs and to see this year’s WC culminating in the manner that it did was more than gratifying.
There were lots of great performances on the day but nothing more spectacular than the Indian skipper MSD peaking when it mattered the most. He had been facing some criticism for not batting to his potential in the tournament. But his marvelous knock of 91 came to the rescue of Team India- the best answer to silence his critics.
Not to forget Gambhir, he too hadn’t clicked in the tournament and had perhaps saved his best for the last. His knock of 97 provided the perfect launch pad for Dhoni to play his natural game.
Spare a thought for the Little Master! For someone who waited for this moment for two decades, the sentiment is all the more extraordinary. This was the only feather left to be added to his cap.
Though he missed out on attaining the mammoth feat of scoring the 100th international hundred but he has always been a team man and will be cherishing this victory second to none.
Finally, for the Lankans there is nothing to be ashamed of. They have been great ambassadors of the game and fought till the end to stay in the game. One of the best one day international Hundreds by Mahela Jayawardena and a farewell to the illustrious career of the spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan was a treat to the eyes.
Meanwhile, it is history for India and they will be basking in the glory of this immaculate victory for years to come and quite deservedly so.
It gives me goose bumps writing this piece. What an incredible feeling it is to be called the World Champions. A day like this comes once in a blue moon.
But finally Dhoni and his brigade did what the nation had been yearning for since 1983. The whole of India will be dancing in the aisles tonight and the celebrations will continue for many more days to come.
It was the perfect script for a final that one could have aspired for. Right since the 1996 WC, all the finals had been one-sided affairs and to see this year’s WC culminating in the manner that it did was more than gratifying.
There were lots of great performances on the day but nothing more spectacular than the Indian skipper MSD peaking when it mattered the most. He had been facing some criticism for not batting to his potential in the tournament. But his marvelous knock of 91 came to the rescue of Team India- the best answer to silence his critics.
Not to forget Gambhir, he too hadn’t clicked in the tournament and had perhaps saved his best for the last. His knock of 97 provided the perfect launch pad for Dhoni to play his natural game.
Spare a thought for the Little Master! For someone who waited for this moment for two decades, the sentiment is all the more extraordinary. This was the only feather left to be added to his cap.
Though he missed out on attaining the mammoth feat of scoring the 100th international hundred but he has always been a team man and will be cherishing this victory second to none.
Finally, for the Lankans there is nothing to be ashamed of. They have been great ambassadors of the game and fought till the end to stay in the game. One of the best one day international Hundreds by Mahela Jayawardena and a farewell to the illustrious career of the spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan was a treat to the eyes.
Meanwhile, it is history for India and they will be basking in the glory of this immaculate victory for years to come and quite deservedly so.
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